Most modern democracies have a system of parties for people
to choose from. In those with only a First Past the Post electoral
system (mainly the US and UK) there are two main parties. In
the US there are for practical purposes two parties found throughout
the nation. Europeans can detect few important differences between
them. In US elections there are often no obvious ideological
differences between candidates, so that elections may turn on
the amount of money used for advertising. (This may be why so
few vote).

In Europe there are usually a range of parties from Far Right
(racist, dictatorial),
through center right, center left, far left (state ownership
of most industries). The result is frequently a coalition of
interest groups with center parties forming the permanent core
of the government. Some electoral systems are alleged to give
voters more choice than others.

In the US voters usually have a choice of candidates in the
Primary before the main election. In France
there is a run off second election if no candidate gets a majority
(more than 50%) in the first election.

Both European and American systems seem able to prevent permanent
dictatorship (though strong-minded persons can sometimes control
the government and ignore the voters, as in the UK). Do any systems
consistently allow competent people to gain office?

In so-called One-party states the ruling party usually allows
no opposition, which means opponents are imprisoned or worse.
In that case the word "Party" is inappropriate as it
is the equivalent of an exclusive Church or cult.